Century from South African Ryan Stanbury helps Prestwich beat Stand

A SENSATIONAL century from South African Ryan Stanbury almost single-handedly consigned Stand to 54-run defeat at the hands of local rivals Prestwich on Saturday.

On an unpredictable Hamilton Road wicket, Prestwich were in deep trouble at 18-4 when Stanbury strode to the crease.

With a mix of strokeplay and strength, he took the attack to Stand with a mesmeric 121, containing nine sixes and 10 fours, off 102 balls.

The home side’s opening duo of Matt Curphey and Joe Walmsley (2-32) had Prestwich’s top three back in the pavilion with 17 on the board, and when Mo Adnan claimed the wicket of Sam Holden off his first delivery, it was time for Stanbury to make his mark.

He twice cleared the wall-end houses, yet arguably his best shot was a full-bloodied extra cover drive for six.

But without some dogged support, he could have been left high and dry.

Prestwich’s David Taylor decamped in a partnership of 70 with Stanbury, despite scoring only four, while Adam Taylor contributed three, but in another worthy 66-run partnership.

Stanbury eventually was dismissed by Curphey, one of his five scalps for a hard-working return of 5-66. Prestwich’s next highest scorer was Steve Orrell with 12 towards the end of the innings, and Tom Gibson was the only other player to reach double figures.

Stand had manoeuvred themselves into a fair position at 76-2, although Alex Bell’s dismissal – beaten by the lack of bounce from Holden for 15 – meant it was always going to be an uphill task.

The wickets then started to tumble as Matt Holt fell to a excellent juggling catch by Adam Cheshire on the deep mid wicket boundary for 23, Brett Ernst was snapped up for 24, caught by Holden off Carl Hey at first slip, and Carl Sutcliffe made 21. Hey’s left-arm spin proved hard to work away, and he ended with 4-22 as the Stand reply ended on 137, with Holden (3-32) taking the last wicket of Razzaq.

The five-point victory was turned into a 10-point weekend when Prestwich chalked up a comfortable seven-wicket victory against Flowery Field on Sunday.

But 18-year-old opener Harry Gee made life uncomfortable for the Heys side with an impressive innings of 90. Tom Scott took with 5-50 including Gee’s wicket from a tidy 15-over spell.

Prestwich’s batting armoury got back on track and there were few alarms as they reached the 180-run target with more than 16 overs to spare.

Hey finished undefeated on 52, while Holden scored 51.

Prestwich host Dukinfield on Saturday, before entertaining Bolton League side Farnworth in the National Knockout Cup the following day.